• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Gracious Wife logo
  • Recipes
  • Family
    • Love & Marriage
    • Parenting
  • House & Home
    • Kitchen and Cooking Tips
    • Cleaning & Organization
    • Budget
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube

Butternut Squash Gratin

Nov 18, 2024 · 4 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

Butternut Squash Gratin with tender slices of butternut squash layered with melted gruyere cheese in a creamy sage sauce and topped with a crispy Parmesan-walnut topping is an elegant side dish for Thanksgiving or dinner.

Overhead view of butternut squash gratin on a small glass plate topped with a fresh sage leaf with the remaining casserole behind.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin is a simple but elegant side dish for your Thanksgiving, holiday, or dinner table that is packed with seasonal ingredients and warm flavor for autumn or winter fare.

This casserole with bright orange butternut squash peeking out from beneath a blanket of melted gruyere cheese in a bath of creamy sage sauce and a crisp herbed walnut-Parmesan topping will leave you begging for seconds of this golden baked dish.

Smooth, rich, and creamy, this side dish is perfect for Thanksgiving or holiday tables, and is easy to make ahead!

How to Prepare Butternut Squash for Butternut Squash Gratin

Prepping your butternut squash is probably the most time-intensive part of this recipe, but thankfully it's pretty simple! Here's how to do it.

  1. Peel. Cut off the top and bottom of the squash, only enough to remove the stem and the bottom. Butternut squash can be peeled with a sharp vegetable peeler. If your vegetable peeler is not sharp enough, you can also use a sharp paring knife.
  2. Seed. Once your squash is peeled, cut it in half length-wise. There are seeds in the bottom bell-shaped portion, like a pumpkin. Scrape out the seeds using a spoon and discard.
  3. Slice. Thinly slice the remaining squash to use in the recipe. I like to use my mandolin to make sure the slices are thin enough and uniform. This ensures that they cook through evenly.

Butternut Squash Gratin Variations

  • Sweet Potatoes - This entire recipe will also work very well for sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, instead of butternut squash. Pumpkin or acorn squash will also work well.
  • Cheese - I love the bitter nuttiness of Gruyere with the sweet butternut squash, but feel free to substitute your favorite cheese here, such as a nice smoky gouda or freshly grated parmesan.
  • Dried Sage - To use dried sage instead of fresh, use 1½ teaspoons dried sage in place of fresh.
  • Thyme - Instead of sage, you can alternately use fresh thyme in the actual sauce.
  • Gluten Free - To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten free bread crumbs. Alternately, you can use only finely chopped walnuts and omit the bread crumbs.
A spoon scooping butternut squash gratin out of a glass casserole dish.

Make Ahead Instructions

As with most dishes that are delicious for the holidays, the real winners are those that can be prepped and made ahead.

While some gratins are tricky to make ahead because the vegetables on the top layer can dry out or discolor, this butternut squash version will not. You can make butternut squash gratin ahead because it will stay moist, and keep well for up to 2 days, covered and stored in the refrigerator.

To do this, prepare your gratin, including covering with parchment and foil. Do not bake. Then, cover with the casserole dish cover if you have one (though it's not necessary since it's already covered with foil.). Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

When you are ready to cook and serve, remove casserole cover, but leave the foil and parchment paper on. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour. This is 15 minutes longer than the time in the recipe, and will account for the chilled ingredients and dish. Then uncover and finish baking as the recipe instructs.

Serving Suggestions

This is a super great dish to serve at holiday meals with ham, turkey, or prime rib.

It also will go well as an everyday side dish with any protein of your choosing, including pork chops, chicken breasts, steak, salmon, and more!

More Side Dish Recipes You'll Love

  • Candied Sweet Potatoes - Spiced sweet potatoes crusted in brown sugar and butter for a side so sweet, it could be dessert!
  • Brussels Sprouts Gratin - Creamy, cheesy brussels sprouts baked in a casserole to golden bubbly perfection.
  • Bourbon Glazed Carrots - A quick stove top side dish with tender carrots glazed in brown sugar and bourbon for a unique and delicious bite.
  • Southern Sweet Potato Casserole - A classic holiday casserole with mashed sweet potatoes and a sweet brown sugar and pecan topping.
  • Best Traditional Thanksgiving Stuffing - The best stuffing recipe ever, passed down in our family over generations. Even stuffing haters have been turned with a helping of this stuffing.

Butternut Squash Gratin Video

Overhead view of butternut squash gratin on a small glass plate topped with a fresh sage leaf.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin with tender slices of butternut squash layered with melted gruyere cheese in a creamy sage sauce and topped with a crispy Parmesan-walnut topping is an elegant side dish for Thanksgiving or dinner.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Butternut Squash Gratin
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour
Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories:
Author: Michelle
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ medium sweet onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ cup fresh sage leaves chopped
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 to 3 pounds butternut squash peeled, seeded, and sliced into ⅛-inch disks
  • ¼ cup water
  • 8 ounces Gruyere cheese freshly grated

Topping

  • 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan
  • ½ cup walnuts chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil.
  • Add onion to the skillet and sauté until tender and translucent, about 4 minutes.
  • Add garlic, sage, brown sugar, salt, pepper, and nutmeg to the skillet. Continue cooking until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  • Remove from heat. Stir in cream. Set aside.
  • Grease a large 9"x13" baking dish.
  • Add the water to the bottom of the prepared dish.
  • Place ⅓ of the butternut squash in the bottom of the dish. Drizzle ⅓ of the cream mixture on top. Then sprinkle ⅓ of the Gruyere.
  • Repeat the layers butternut, cream, cheese twice more.
  • In a separate medium mixing bowl, add all of the topping ingredients. Stir with a fork to combine.
  • Sprinkle topping on top of butternut squash layers.
  • Cover with parchment paper to prevent sticking and then foil so that cover is tight.
  • Bake covered for 45 minutes at 375°F.
  • Uncover. Turn oven up to 400°F, and cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Notes

  • Sage: To use dried sage instead of fresh, use 1½ teaspoons dried sage in place of fresh.
  • Make Ahead Instructions: Prepare according to recipe instructions, including covering with parchment and foil, but do not bake. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you are ready to cook and serve, remove casserole cover, but leave the foil and parchment paper on. Bake at 375°F for 1 hour. This is 15 minutes longer than the time in the recipe, and will account for the chilled ingredients and dish. Then uncover and finish baking as the recipe instructs.
  • Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in individual servings in the microwave.
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in November 2014. It was updated with new pictures, tips, and videos and republished in October 2024.

Never Miss a Thing!

Join our newsletter to get new recipes, tips, tricks, and tutorials every week!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

More Side Dishes

  • Overhead view of Instant pot black-eyed peas in a white bowl topped with sliced green onions and a spoon in the middle.
    Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas
  • Side view of homemade cranberry sauce in a small glass jar with fresh cranberries and a spoon in front.
    Easy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
  • Biscuits stacked on a black matte plate on a white rustic wood background
    Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
  • Romesco pasta salad in a wooden bowl topped with freshly chopped parsley and a linen napkin behind.
    Romesco Pasta Salad
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mix

Casseroles, Fall, Potatoes, Recipes, Side Dishes, Special Days, Thanksgiving, Vegetarian, Veggies Butternut Squash Gratin Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristina and Millie says

    November 18, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    Hmmm I like 'gratin and I like butternut squash so this is going to be a must try for sure. Your recipe for Butternut squash au gratin sounds delish and the end pictures make my mouth water! nom nom nom!

    Reply
  2. Valerie says

    November 19, 2014 at 3:27 pm

    This looks like a great idea for a Thanksgiving side dish! For sure will be pinning this one.

    Reply
  3. Zenda says

    November 21, 2014 at 8:06 am

    Oh, my!! This looks and sounds delicious! I've raised a few butternuts this summer and will be using them to make this gratin. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  4. Jacqui Odell says

    November 21, 2014 at 10:03 am

    This sounds amazing! Thank you for linking up to Party Time and we hope to see you again next week!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Picture of Michelle Medlin, The Gracious Wife

Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
Welcome to The Gracious Wife!
MORE ABOUT ME>>

Celebrate Memorial Day

Strawberry rhubarb crisp on a small white plate topped with vanilla ice cream with a spoon in it with a navy linen and fresh strawberries behind.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Preacher Cake topped with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans on a small white plate.

Preacher Cake

Romesco pasta salad in a wooden bowl topped with freshly chopped parsley and a linen napkin behind.

Romesco Pasta Salad

Tabouli Salad in a wooden bowl topped with fresh tomatoes, two lemon slices, wedges of pita, with a spoon scooping out a bite.

Tabouli Salad

Overhead view of a cold veggie pizza topped with veggies like cucumber slices, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, fresh dill, and more, sitting on a parchment paper with a slice pulled out away from the rest.

Cold Veggie Pizza

Creamy Cucumber salad topped with fresh chives in a white ceramic bowl sitting on a rustic wood background.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

More Summer Recipes & Ideas

Summer Salads

Chicken tender being dipped into a small bowl of homemade honey mustard dip

Homemade Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce

Overhead view of honey mustard chicken salad with fresh greens, avocado slices, beans, red onions, chicken, and homemade honey mustard drizzled on top.

Honey Mustard Chicken Salad

Summer slaw with a creamy tangy dressing in a glass bowl with a silicone spoon taking a scoop out.

Summer Slaw

Large glass bowl of fruit salad with grapes, strawberries, and blueberries topped with lemon and lime wedges with a wooden spoon in the middle.

Easy Homemade Fruit Salad

Overhead view of Mexican street corn salad in a large wooden bowl topped with cotija cheese, chile lime seasoning, and lime slices next to a bunch of fresh cilantro and a striped linen napkin on a rustic background.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

A big bowl of Ambrosia salad with a cherry on top with mini marshmallows scattered around it.

Ambrosia Salad

Spicy mayo sauce being drizzled over a spicy tuna roll bowl next to wooden chopsticks and a white linen

Spicy Tuna Roll Bowl

Berry cheesecake salad topped with a sliced strawberry next to a lemon wedge and fresh raspberries

Berry Cheesecake Salad

Close up side view of Doritos Taco Salad in a large glass bowl with a bag of nacho cheese Doritos behind it.

Doritos Taco Salad

More Salad Recipes

Reader Favorites on The Gracious Wife

Close up picture of a Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes with a bite taken out on a marble background.

Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes

A glass mug of green mint white hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and crushed green mint candy pieces on a white marble surface surrounded by more star mint candies.

Mint White Hot Chocolate

A slice of no bake s'mores cheesecake topped with mini marshmallows and graham cracker crumbs on a small plate.

No Bake S'mores Cheesecake

Slice of crockpot breakfast casserole on a white plate with stainless steel crock pot in the background.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

A corner slice of chicken pot pie with golden crust on a small plate with a fork with a bite on it, on a rustic wood background with a striped linen

The BEST Chicken Pot Pie

Footer

  • About The Gracious Wife
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright Notice
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

You can find me here too!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Disclosure

The Gracious Wife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. All our thoughts and opinions are our own and we are not paid for or mandated to provide a positive review.

2024© The Medlin Group
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 The Gracious Wife ·

122 shares
122 shares